that ?

Prin. Nothing but this? yes, as much love in ryhme,

As would be cramm'd up in a sheet of paper,
Writ on both sides the leaf, margent and all:
That he was fain to seal on Cupid's name.
Ros. That was the way to make his god-head
wax; t

For he hath been five thousand years a boy. Kath. Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too.

Ros. You'll ne'er be friends with him; he kill'd your sister.

Kath. He made her melancholy, sad, and heavy;

And so she died: had she been light, like you,
Of such a merry, nimble, stirring spirit,
She might have been a grandan ere she died:
And so may you for a light heart lives long.
Ros. What's your dark meaning, mouse, ‡ of
this light word?

Kath. A light condition in a beauty dark.
Ros. We need more light to find your meaning

too,

I were the fairest goddess on the ground:
I am compar'd to twenty thousand fairs.
Oh! he bath drawn my picture in his letter!
Prin. Any thing like ?

Ros. Much, in the letters; nothing in the praise.

Prin. Beauteous as ink; a good conclusion.
Kath. Fair as a text B in a copy-book.
Ros. 'Ware pencils! How let me not die
your debtor,

My red dominical, my golden letter:
Oh! that your face were not so full of O'1⁄2 1
Kath. A pox of that just; and beshrew all
shrows !

Prin. But what was sent to you from fair Dumain?

Kath. Madain, this glove.

Prin. Did he not send you twain ?
Kath. Yes, madam; and moreover,
Some thousand verses of a faithful lover:
A huge translation of hypocrisy.
Vilely compil'd, profound simplicity.

Mar. This, and these pearls, to me sent Leagaville;

The letter is too long by half a mile.

Prin. I think no less: Dost thou not wish in heart,

The chain were longer, and the letter short! Mar. Ay, or I would these hands might never part.

Prin. We are wise girls, to mock our lovers

80.

Ros. They are worse fools to purchase mocking so.

That same Birón I'll torture ere I go.

Oh! that I knew he were but in by the week! How I would make him fawn, and beg, and seek;

And wait the season, and observe the times,
And spend his prodigal wits in bootless rhymOS:
And shape his service wholly to my behests:
And make him proud to make me proud that
jests!

So portent-like would I o'ersway his state,
That he should be my fool, and I his fate.

Prin. None are so surely caught, when they

Enter BOYET.

Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face.

Boyet. Oh! I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's her grace ?

Prin. Thy news, Boyet?

Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare!— Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are Against your peace: Love doth approach disguis'd,

Armed in arguments; you'll be surpris'd: Muster your wits; stand in your own defence: Or hide your heads like cowards, and by bence.

Prin. Saint Dennis to saint Cupid! What are

they,

That charge their breath against us ! say, scout,

say.

Boyct. Under the cool shade of a sycamore, I thought to close mine eyes some ball an bour:

When, lo! to interrupt my purpos'd rest,
Toward that shade I might behold address'd
The king and his companions: warily

I stole into a neighbour thicket by,
And overbeard what you shall overhear;
That, by and by, disguis'd they will be bere.
Their herald is a pretty Lnavish page,
That well by heart hath coun'd bis embassage:
Action, and accent, did they teach him there;
Thus must thou speak, and thus thy body
bear:

And ever and anon they made a doubt,
Presence majestical would put him out:
For, quoth the king, an angel shalt thes

see;

Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously.
The boy replied, An angel is not evil;

I should have fear'd her, had she been a devil.

With that all laugh'd, and clapp'd him on the shoulder;

Making the bold wag by their praises bolder.
One rubb'd his elbow, thus ; and fleer'd and swore,
A better speech was never spoke before:
Another, with his finger and his thumb,
Cried, Via! we will do't, come what will come :
The third be caper'd, and cried, All goes well:
The fourth turn'd on the toe, and down he fell.
With that, they all did tumble on the ground,
With such a zealous laughter so profound,
That in this spleen ridiculous appears,
To check their folly, passion's solemn tears.
Prin. But what, but what, come they to visit
us ?

Boyet. They do, they do; and are apparel'd

thus,

Like Moscovites, or Russians as I guess,
Their purpose is, to parle, to court, and dance :
And every one his love-feat will advance
Unto his several mistress; which they'll know
By favours several, which they did bestow.

Prin. And will they so? the gallants shall be task'd:

For ladies, we will every one be mask'd;
And not a man of them shall have the grace
Despite of suit, to see a lady's face.-
Hola, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear ;
And then the king will court thee for his dear;
Hold, take thou this, my sweet, and give me
thine;

So shall Birón take me for Rosaline.-
And change you favours too; so shall your loves
Woo contrary, deceiv'd by these removes.

Ros. Come on then; wear the favours most in sight.

Kath. But, in this changing, what is your intent ?

Prin. The effect of my intent is, to cross

their's:

They do it but in mocking merriment;
And mock for mock is only my intent.
Their several counsels they unbosom shall
To loves mistook; and so be mock'd withal,
Upon the next occasion that we meet,
With visages display'd, to talk, and greet.

Ros. But shall we dance, if they desire us to't! Prin. No; to the death, we will not move a foot:

Nor to their peun'd speech render we no grace; But, while 'tis spoke, each turn away her face. Boyet. Why, that contempt will kill the speaker's heart,

And quite divorce his memory from his part.

Prin. Therefore I do it; and I make no doubt, The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out. There's no such sport, as sport by sport o'erthrown;

To make their's our's, and our's none but our

own:

So shall we stay, mocking intended game; And they, well mock'd, depart away with shame. [Trumpets sound within. Boyet. The trumpet sounds; be mask'd, the maskers come. [The ladies mask.

Enter the KING, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN, in Russian habits, and masked; MOTH, Musicians, and Attendants.

Moth. All hl, the richest beauties on the earth!

Boyet. Beauties no richer than rich taffata. Moth. A holy parcel of the fairest dames, [The ladies turn their backs to him. That ever turn'd their-bucks-to mortal

Moth. Once to behold your sun-beamed eyes, -with your sun-beamed eyesBoyet. They will not answer to that epithet; You were best call it, daughter-beamed eyes. Moth. They do not mark me, and that brings me out.

Biron. Is this your perfectness? be gone, you rogue.

Ros. What would these strangers ? know their minds, Boyet :

If they do speak our language, 'tis our will
That some plain man recount their purposes:
Know what they would.

Boyet. What would you with the princess? Biron. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation.

Ros. What would they, say they?

Boyet. Nothing but peace and gentle vistation. Ros. Why, that they have; and bid them so be gone.

Boyet. She says, you have it, and you may be

And many miles; the princess bids you tell,
How many inches do fill up one mile.
Biron. Tell her, we measure thein by weary
steps.

Boyet. She bears herself.

Ros. How many weary steps,

Of many weary miles you have o’ergone,
Are number'd in the travel of one mile?
Biron. We number nothing that we spend for
you;

Our duty is so rich, so infinite,

That we may do it still without accompt.
Vouchsafe to show the sunshine of your face,
That we, like savages, may worship it.

Ros. My face is but a moon, and clouded too. King. Blessed are clouds, to do as such clouds do!

Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars to shine

(Those clouds remov'd,) upon our wat'iy eyne.

Ros. O vain petitioner! beg a greater matter; Thou now request'st but moonshine in the

We'll not be nice: take hands ;-we will not dance.

King. Why take we hands then? Ros. Only to part friends :Court'sy, sweet hearts; and so the measure

ends

King. More measure of this measure; be not nice.

Ros. We can afford no more at such a price. King. Prize you yourselves; What buys your

company f

King. I am best pleas'd with that. [They converse apart. Biron. White banded mistress, one sweet word with thee.

Prin. Honey, and milk, and sugar: there is three.

Biron. Nay then, two treys, (and if you grow so nice,)

Metheglin, wort, and malmsey :-Well run, dice!

There's half a dozen sweets.

Prin. Seventh sweet, adieu !

Kath. Lord Longaville said, I came o'er his heart;

And trow you, what he call'd me ?
Prin. Qualm, perhaps.
Kath. Yes, in good faith.

Prin. Go, sickness as thou art!

Ros. Well, better wits have worn plain sta tute-caps.

Biron. One word in secret.

Prin. Let it not be sweet.

Biron. Thou griev'st my gall. Prin. Gall? bitter.

Biron. Therefore meet.

[They converse apart.

Dum. Will you vouchsafe with me to change a word?

Mar. Name it

Dum. Fair lady,

Mar. Say you so? Fair lord,

Take that for your fair lady.

Dum. Please it you,

As much in private, and I'll bid adieu.

[They converse apart. Kath. What was your visor made without a tongue ?

Long. I know the reason, lady, why you ask. Kath. Oh! for your reason! quickly, Sir; I long.

Long. You have a double tongue within your mask,

And would afford my speechless visor half.
Kath. Veal, quoth the Dutchman ;-Is not veal
a calf ?

Long. A calf, fair lady?
Kath. No, a fair lord calf.
Long. Let's part the word.

Kath. No, I'll not be your half:

Take all, and wean it; it may prove an ox. Long. Look, how you butt yourself in these sharp mocks !

Will you give horns, chaste lady do not so. Kath. Then die a calf, before your horns do grow.

Long. One word in private with you, ere I die.

Kath. Bleat softly then, the butcher bears you cry. [They converse apart. Boyet. The tongues of mocking wenches are

Prin. And quick Birón hath plighted faith to

me

Kath. And Longaville was for my service born. Mar. Dumain is mine, as sure as bark on

tree.

Boye!. Madam, and pretty mistresses, give car: Immediately they will again be here

In their own shapes; for it can never be,
They will digest this harsh indignity.
Prin. Will they return?

Boyet. They will, they will, God knows; And leap for joy, though they are lame with blows:

Therefore change favoure; and when they repair,

Blow like sweet roses in the summer air. Prin. How blow ? how blow I speak to be mi derstood.

Boyet. Fair ladies mask'd, are roses in their bud:

Dismask'd, their damask sweet shown,

conmixture

Are angels veiling clouds, or roses blown.
Prin. Avauut, perplexity! What shall we do,
If they return in their own shapes to woo!
Ros. Good madam, if by me you'll be ad-
vis'd,

Let's mock them stiil, as well known, as disguis'd:

Let us complain to them what fools were here,
Disguis'd like Muscovites, in shapeless; gear,
And wonder, what they were; and to what end
Their shallow shows, and prologue vilely pean'd
And their rough carriage so ridiculous,
Should be presented at our tent to us.

Boyet. Ladies, withdraw; the gallants are at hand.

Prin. Whip to our tents, as roes run over land.

[Exeunt PRIN. ROS. KATH. and MARIA. Enter the KING, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN, in their proper habits.

King. Fair Sir, God save you! Where is the princess?

Boyet. Gone to her tent, Please it your majesty,

Command me any service to her thither ? King. That she vouchsafe me audience for one word.

Boyet. I will; and so will she; I know, my lord. Erit. Biron. This fellow pecks up wit, as pigeons

This gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve;
Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve:
He can carve too, and lisp: Why, this is he,
That, kiss'd away his hand in courtesy:
This is the ape of form, monsieur the nice,
That when he plays at tables, chides the dice
In honourable terms; nay, he can sing
A mean most meanly; and, in ushering,
Mend him who can the ladies call him, sweet;
The stairs, as he treads on them, kiss his feet:
This is the flower that smiles on every one,
To show his teeth as white as whales' bone: +
And consciences, that will not die in debt,
Pay him the due of honey-tongued Boyet.

King. A blister on his sweet tongue, with my beart,

That put Armado's page out of his part!

Enter the PRINCESS, ushered by BOYET: RosaLINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, and Attendants. Biron. See where it comes 1-Bebaviour, what wert thou,

Till this man show'd thee? and what art thou now ?

Kang. All hail, sweet madam, and fair time of day!

King. Fair, in all bail, is foul, as I conceive. King. Construe my speeches better, if you may.

Prin. Then wish me better, I will give you leave.

King. We came to visit you; and purpose

now

To lead you to our court: vouchsafe it then.

Prin. This field small hold me: and so hold your vow;

Nor God, nor I, delight in perjur'd men. King. Rebuke me not for that which you provoke ;

The virtue of your eye must break my onth. Prin. You nick-name virtue; vice you should have spoke;

For virtue's office never breaks men's troth. Now, by my maiden honour, yet as pure As the unsullied lily, I protest,

A world of torments though I should endure,

I would not yield to be your house's guest: So much I hate a breaking-cause to be of heavenly oaths, vow'd with integrity. King. O you have liv'd in desolation here,

Unseen, unvisited, much to our shame. Prin. Not so, my lord; it is not so, I swear: We have had pastimes here, and pleasant

game;

A mess of Russians left us but of late.
King. How, inadam? Russians ?
Prin. Ay, in truth, my lord;

Trim gallants, full of courtship, and of state.

Ros. Madam, speak true:-It is not so, my lord:

My lady, (to the manner of the days, :)
In courtesy, gives undeserving praise.
We four, indeed, confronted here with four
In Russian babit; here they stay'd an hour,
And talk'd apace; and in that hour, my lord,
They did not bless us with one happy word,
I dare not call them fools; but this i think,
When they are thirsty, fools would fain have

Ros. Bnt that you take what doth to you be long,

It were a fault to snatch words from my tongue. Biron. Oh! I am your's, and all that I pos

sess.

Ros. All the fool mine?

Biron. I cannot give you less.

Ros. Which of the visors was it, that you Wore?

Biron. Where? when? what visor? why demand you this?

Ros. There, then, that visor; that superfluous case,

That bid the worse, and show'd the better face. King. We are descried: they mock us now downright.

Dum. Let us confess, and turn it to a jest. Prin. Amaz'd, my lord? why looks your highness sad?

Ros. Help, hold his brows! he'll swoon!
Why look you pale ?-

Sea-sick, I think, coming from Muscovy.
Biron. Thus pour the stars down plagues for

perjury.

Can any face of brass hold longer out ?— Here stand I, lady; dart thy skill at me;

Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a flout:

Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my igno

rance;

Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit; And I will wish thee never more to dance,

Nor never more in Russian habit wait. Oh! never will I trust to speeches penu'd, Nor to the motion of a school-boy's tongue; Nor never come in visor to my friend; •

NoF Woo in rhyme, like a blind harper's

song:

Taffata phrases, silken terms precise,

Three-pil'd hyperboles, spruce affectation, Figures pedantical; these summer-flies

Have blown me full of maggot ostentation:
I do forswear them and I here protest,
By this white glove, (how white the hand,
God knows!)

Henceforth my wooing mind shall be express'd
In russet yeas, aud honest kersey noes:
And, to begin, wench,-so God help me, la
My love to thee is sound, saus crack or flaw,
Ros. Sans SANS, I pray you.
Biron. Yet I have a trick

Of the old rage :-bear with me, I am sick;
I'll leave it by degrees. Soft, let us see;-
Write, Lord have mercy on us, on those
three;

They are infected, in their hearts it lies;
They have the plegue, and caught it of your
eyes:

These lords are visited; you are not free,
For the Lord's tokens on you do I see.

Prin. No, they are free, that gave these

tokens to us.

Biron. Our states are forfeit, seek not to un

do us.

Ros. It is not so; For how can this be true, That you stand forfeit, being those that sue? Biron. Peace; for I will not have to do with

you.

Ros. Nor shall not, if I do as I intend. Biron. Speak for yourselves, my wit is at an end.

King. Teach us, sweet madam, for our rude transgression

Some fair excuse.

Prin. The fairest is confession.

Were you not here, but even now disguis'd?
King, Madam, I was.

Prin. And were you well advis'd ?
King. I was, fair madam.

Prin. When you then were here,

What did you whisper in your lady's ear?

King. That more than all the world I did re

spect her.

• Mistress

Prin. Peace, peace, forbear; Your oath once broke, you force

not to for

swear.

King. Despise me, when I break this oath of mine.

Biron. By Jove, I always took three threes for nine.

Cost. O Lord, Sir, it were pity you should get your living by reckoning, Sir.

Biron. How much is it?

What did the Russian whisper in your ear?

Ros. Madam, he swore, that he did hold me

dear

As precious eye-sight; and did value me
Above this world: adding thereto, moreover,
That he would wed me, or else die my lover.
Prin. God give thee joy of him! the noble
lord

Most honourably doth uphold his word.

King. What mean you, madam? by my life, my troth,

I never swore this lady such an oath.

the great, Sir.

Biron. Art thou one of the worthies?

Cost. It pleased them, to think me worthy of Pompion the great; for mine own part, I know not the degree of the worthy; but I am to stand for him.

Biron. Go, bid them prepare. Cost. We will turn it finely off, Sir; we wil take some care. [Exit COSTARI King. Birón, they will shame us, let them DNI approach.

Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord: and 'tis some policy

You gave me this: but take it, Sir, again.

King. My faith, and this, the princess I did give;

I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve.

Prin. Pardon me, Sir, this jewel did she wear;

And lord Biron, I thank him, is my dear :-
What; will you have me, or your pearl again?
Biron. Neither of either; I remit both twain.
I see the trick on't ;-Here was a consent, †
(Knowing aforehand of our merriment,)
To dash it like a Christmas comedy:
Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight
zany,

Some numble-news, some trencher-knight, some
Dick,-

That smiles bis cheek in years; and knows the trick

To make my lady langh, when she's dispos'd,-
Told our intents before: which once disclos'd,
The ladies did change favours; and then we,
Following the signs, woo'd but the sign of she.
Now, to our perjury to add more terror,
We are again forsworn; in will, and error.
Much upon this it is:-And might not you,

company. King. I say they shall not come.

Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule

you now;

That sport best pleases, that doth least know how:

Where zeal strives to content, and the contents Die in the zeal of them which it presents, Their form confounded makes most form mirth;

When great things labouring perish in ther birth.

Biron. A right description of our sport, my lord.

Enter ARMADO.

Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal sweet breath, as will utter a brace of words.

[ARMADO converses with the Kine, and
delivers him a paper.]

Prin. Doth this man serve God?
Biron. Why ask you?

Prin. He speaks not like a man of God's making.

Arm. That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch; for, I protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical; too, too vain; too, too vaik: But we will put it, as they say, to fortuna della guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, met royal couplement ! [Exit ARMADO.

King. Here is like to be a good presence of worthies: He presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Maccabæus.

And if these four worthies in their first shaw thrive,

These four will change habits, and present the other five.

Biron. There is five in the first show.
King. You are deceiv'd 'tis not so.

Biron. The pedant, the braggart, the hedgepriest, the fool, and the boy :

Abate a throw at novum; and the whole world

again,

Cannot prick out five such, take each one in his vein.

King. The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain.

[Seats brought for the KING, PRIN CESS, &C.

Pageant of the nine Worthies.

Enter COSTARD arm'd for Pompey.
Cost. I Pompey am,

Boyet. You lie, you are not be.
Cost, I Pompey am,—

Boyet. With libbard's head on knee

+ Conspiracy. Rule.